Organized Felling

We're going out into the woods to fell a good number of beetle-killed Fonderosa pine trees. The trees are standing dead and are grouped pretty much together, on the side of a slope facing the road but a good distance away.

We want to move the trees as little as possible, and we want to fell them so they'll be easy to limb and buck into loading-sized logs. We'll start cutting at the edge of the trees closest to the road, and we'll use one or more of the trees as a workbench for limbing all the trees that come later.

For a workbench, fell a tree diagonally across the center of your start of operation. Then felt tree number one so that it falls across the workbench. This lifts the trunk up off the ground and makes limbing and bucking easier. Limb the whole tree, from trunk to top. It helps to mark the tree for bucking while you're limbing it. With the tree limbed, it's easy to roll or see-saw the tree across the workbench to one side. Then you can buck it into lengths to be rolled downhill to the road. This method quickly leads to piles of bucked logs, ready for loading.

When you follow an organized felling procedure like this, save the side trees for last. You can use your Accumulated piles of timber for workbenches for these trees.

Demanding as it is, working with a chain saw is incomplete cxcrcise. It may add some strength to your arms, but will do little for your overall physical condition. My own formula for unwinding after a long session with the chain saw is to devote some time to meditation and yoga. It's the best cure, for me, though a walk in the woods works almost as wet).

Sleeping under the trees on a warm afternoon is another ideal way to counter the negative effects of running a gasoline-powered engine. Sitting by a river dipping your toes isn't bad, either. When working in the woods, the natural woodsperson takes long and frequent breaks. It's the only way to remember who you are, where you fit, and why you're there. For safety's

Manufacturers recognize the many uses a chain saw can have on a farm or homestead. Stihl, Inc.

sake, you should work with a partner whenever you can. For nature's sake, you should each take your breaks in solitude.

There are a lot of things that either needs to be repaired, or put together when youre a homeowner. If youre a new homeowner, and have just gotten out of apartment style living, you might want to take this list with you to the hardware store. From remolding jobs to putting together furniture you can use these 5 power tools to get your stuff together. Dont forget too that youll need a few extra tools for other jobs around the house.